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Cranmore Regeneration Renamed To Include Racecource

The Cranmore Regeneration Project in Sligo has again changed title, has again changed tack and again changed its timeframe for delivery.

Members of Sligo Borough Council had a wordy briefing before them at their September meeting last night (Monday). It revealed:-

There is no defined border, or areas, in the Brief being considered by the Department of the Environment for inclusion in the proposed new Masterplan.

The title is now 'Cranmore & Environs' where it once was Cranmore, then the 'Eastern Quadrant.'

It is now nine years since the Cranmore Regeneration project was first mooted (for the Cranmore estates alone, for their physical, social and economic regeneration).

Funding Streams

But the timeframe in last night's Brief before elected members suggested a timeframe of five to ten years for delivery after a "consultation" process which could take up to 18 months.

The key issue of funding streams is not addressed in the Brief; in the Celtic Tiger era it had been mooted that a mix of Public/Private partnership would be involved.

Surprisingly Tonaphubble, which tantalisingly includes Sligo Racecourse, has been officially added to Regeneration for the first time.

Cllr Sean MacManus highlighted several times last night that some residential areas had been added against their will.

Like Quicksilver

Cllr Declan Bree who had requested a report on the project last April welcomed it. He said it was "unfortunate we had to wait such a length of time for it and I would have expected that members of Sligo Borough Council would have input into it."

The description of the regeneration areas has again changed; it's like quicksilver," said Cllr Bree.

Cllr Chris MacManus welcome the substantive report but noted there were "no defined boundaries" described for the project the document. He noted that it was now suggested to take in Tonaphubble and said areas around Cranmore had not been consulted about their inclusion.

Not Clear

"As councillors we dont know who we should be consulting with. The boundaries are not clear. It's very ambiguous," said Cllr MacManus.

There was a demand, he said, for substantive work on houses in Cranmore but "we seem to be moving away from that," he said.

He queried who had "ownership" of the project now. Overall, he had "very strong concerns" and warned there could be recriminations.

Mayor David Cawley highlighted a note in the Brief before members which said that 'it may not be helpful in the early stage' to fix boundaries.

Cllr Daniel McGarrigle sought more info on the delivery of the project. There was a big difference he said between the five and ten years referred to. He also queried funding sources.

Marcella McGarry welcomed that a start had been made.


Read the full project brief here